CENAP Infoline - no 029

Magazine Overview

Title: cenap-infoline
Issue: nr. 29
Date: January 2, 1996

This issue of cenap-infoline provides a retrospective look at the German UFO scene in 1995, criticizing the prevailing atmosphere and methods used by some researchers and groups. It also includes various news items related to UFO phenomena, space exploration, and technology.

Review of the German UFO Scene in 1995

The editorial begins by reflecting on 1995 as an "exciting year" for the German UFO scene, but questions whether it led to a better overview. The author laments that the media contributed to more chaos, and within the UFO scene itself, "the worst methods" are being used to dictate the direction. Skeptical UFO researchers are dismissed as being too quick to judge, allegedly knowing the answer before investigating. This is described as a "cheap and well-known" tactic used by "uninformed contemporaries" found in forums like DEGUFORUM.

More concerning is the "Reibach-UFO-Mafia" (literally 'get-rich-quick UFO mafia'), which allegedly profits from the gullible. This group is accused of exploiting alien corpses without regard for new findings or their stated goals. Instead, disinformation is used to sell videos, while simultaneously accusing the media and informed UFO researchers of doing the same. The author expresses disgust at this "sad game."

Beyond these groups, there are also "uninformed" individuals who accept the "belief messages" from DUIST and a certain Mr. Ilg, which gained attention via teletext around the New Year. Adamski mugs are flying, and Mr. Ilg's "medial messages" are treated as absolute truth, as if no clarification has ever occurred. The article recounts an incident where Mr. Ilg allegedly caused his hometown to be turned upside down by announcing the landing of a flying saucer, organizing emergency services and the mayor. However, the landing never occurred, and Mr. Ilg reportedly had to pay various costs, which he seems to have forgotten while continuing to spread his messages.

Another group mentioned is the "scientifically titled research group" MUFON-CES, which is involved in a legal dispute with Mr. Henke of GWUP. This case is scheduled for a hearing in Heidelberg in January, stemming from Mr. Henke's criticism and substantiation of MUFON-CES's working methods.

The issue concludes this section with a New Year's wish to its readers for 1996.

Media Reports and UFO Sightings

"Falsche Ufos" (False UFOs) - MORGEN, October 6, 1995

Residents in the triangle between Weinheim, Mannheim, and Worms reported strange, whitish light discs. However, UFO researchers from Mannheim have issued a statement clarifying that these were not extraterrestrial phenomena but light effects from a discotheque in Lampertheim.

"Außerirdische sollten Schulden bezahlen" (Aliens Should Pay Debts) - BILD, September 13, 1995

Around 1500 people gathered at an airfield in northern Bulgaria, expecting the arrival of eight alien spaceships promised by three fortune tellers, who claimed the aliens would bring money to pay off debts. The crowd waited in vain and became agitated, intending to assault the fortune tellers. Police had to intervene to protect them.

Bermuda Triangle: Is Gas the Secret? - BILD, December 6, 1995

This article discusses the mystery of the Bermuda Triangle, where 20 ships and 16 aircraft have disappeared since 1945. An international research team led by Dr. Julian Pearce from the University of Newcastle suggests the mystery might be solved by giant underwater gas bubbles. The area between Bermuda and the US mainland is said to have the largest methane gas deposits in the world. The theory posits that this gas can erupt suddenly, causing ships to lose buoyancy and aircraft to fall as if in a vacuum.

"No, Ryan, there was no UFO. Now about Santa Claus" - CRAGG HINES (Source not specified, likely a newspaper column)

President Clinton, during a Christmas tree lighting ceremony in Belfast, responded to a letter from a 13-year-old named Ryan who asked about an alleged UFO crash in Roswell, New Mexico, in 1947. Clinton stated that, to his knowledge, no alien spacecraft crashed there. He humorously added that if the US Air Force had recovered alien bodies, they hadn't told him, and he wanted to know. The article speculates that this statement might be picked up by supermarket tabloids.

Science and Technology News

Boeing Heliwing First Flight

The Boeing Heliwing drone, developed for reconnaissance missions, particularly for smaller ships, completed its first four-minute hover flight at Grand County Airport in Moses Lake, Washington. The unmanned aircraft, developed for the Pentagon's Joint Project Office for Unmanned Aerial Vehicles, can take off vertically and then tilt forward to fly like an airplane. It is powered by a Williams-124 turboshaft engine and has a maximum speed of 330 km/h.

"Galileo" a Complete Success - PASADENA, December 12, 1995

US scientists are enthusiastic about the initial data received from Jupiter's atmosphere by the Galileo probe. The American-German daughter probe collected data for 57 minutes and transmitted it to Earth. The article includes a diagram of the Galileo probe, detailing its instruments like magnet sensors, thrusters, plutonium battery, and various spectrometers.

German Astronaut to Mir Space Station - MORGEN, December 11, 1995

An agreement was signed between the German Aerospace Agency (DARA) and the Russian Space Agency (RKA) for a German astronaut to work on the Russian Mir space station in late 1996. Germany will pay 25 million Marks for the training, transport, and use of the station. Two candidates, Hans Schlegel and Reinhold Ewald, are currently undergoing training near Moscow. One of them will spend 18 days on Mir in December 1996, conducting 47 medical and biological experiments.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue include the critical examination of the UFO community's practices, particularly regarding misinformation and commercial exploitation. There's a clear stance against sensationalism and unsubstantiated claims, favoring a more critical and scientific approach. The issue also highlights advancements in space technology and exploration, contrasting them with the often-unverified claims within the UFO field. The editorial stance is one of skepticism towards unsubstantiated UFO reports while acknowledging genuine scientific endeavors in space and technology.